syria

Both officials underlined that the discussions are ongoing and that nothing is finalized. But the talks point to a consensus by both governments that, in contrast to the U.S. withdrawal in 2011, a longer-term presence of American troops in Iraq is needed to ensure that an insurgency does not bubble up again once the militants are driven out

‘It’s been really heartbreaking to look in the eyes of our community members when they say ‘My 18-year-old son was supposed to come in one week … is that really not happening?” said Jill Fricker, executive director of the Colorado African Organization. ‘And our response is, ‘The way we understand it, that is not happening.”

An Associated Press photographer and others at the art gallery watched in horror as the gunman, who was wearing a dark suit and tie, fired at least eight shots, at one point walking around Ambassador Andrei Karlov as he lay motionless and shooting him again at close range

“Initially we were a little more hopeful the rhetoric was just that, but when you look at the people he is surrounding himself with, who will influence him, it doesn’t alleviate any concerns, that’s for sure” — Jennifer Piper, interfaith organizer for the American Friends Service Committee

The country should look to Aurora for how a community can assimilate a virtually endless variety of cultures, races, religions, languages and backgrounds, and create a single place that’s better for it

“America is a beautiful country,” Nadim Fawzi Jouriyeh said through an Arabic translator at the office of the International Rescue Committee in El Cajon, a San Diego suburb that has drawn Iraqis and, more recently, Syrians fleeing war. “The way they treat people and the people of America are very nice.”

Like Shirley, Jordan MacTaggart’s family said he went to join the fight after hearing about beheadings, stabbings and sexual assaults reportedly committed by ISIS forces. Also like Shirley, he fought in Syria, returned home and then headed back to the battlefield.